Meet the Stars of "Moxie," Netflix's Feminist Coming-Of-Age Drama (2024)

Director Amy Poehler describes her Netflix film Moxie as a "coming-of-rage story." It follows a timid 16-year-old girl named Vivian who ignites a feminist movement among her peers when she anonymously publishes a zine that calls out her high school's sexist status quo.

As Vivian learns to embrace her inner "Rebel Girl" (there are several excellent Bikini Kill needle drops in this movie), she finds herself at a crossroads between standing down and standing up for what's right. Moxie, streaming now, is about a lot of things — intersectional feminism, friendship, toxic masculinity, to name a few — but its grrrl-power is most potent when rage gives way to empathy and sisterhood.

Based on the book by Jennifer Mathieu, and adapted for the screen by Tamara Chestna and Dylan Meyer, Moxie boasts an impressive cast of up-and-coming young actors. Get to know them in our guide below.

Hadley Robinson as Vivian

A riot grrrl in training, 16-year-old Vivian's feminist awakening inspires her to anonymously publish Moxie, an audacious zine that rebels against the school's misogynist status quo and sparks a revolution. The Moxie movement also helps Vivian come out of her own shell. She's shy and introverted, except for when she's trying to smash the patriarchy.

Actor Hadley Robinson wrote and directed her own feminist manifesto in 2019: a women-centric take on Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot. The rising star landed her first major role in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. Since then, the Juilliard graduate has racked up a few other credits in projects like Amazon's Utopia and Charlie Kaufman’s Netflix film I’m Thinking of Ending Things. But Moxie is her first starring role.

For Robinson, who's in her mid-20s, it was a chance to reconnect with her teenage self. “I’ve been playing teenagers, so I’ve kind of been in this, like, teenager mindset for a solid six months," she told Vogue last year.

Alycia Pascual-Peña as Lucy

Following her breakthrough performance in the Saved By the Bell reboot, actor Alycia Pascual-Peña steps into the role of Lucy in Moxie. A new student, Lucy is outspoken and has absolutely no tolerance for school golden boy Mitchell Wilson's bullying and misogyny. So when she discovers the Moxie zine in the girls' bathroom, she jumps at the chance to help lead a feminist revolution — and her charisma and tenacity make her a perfect spokeswoman on the frontlines.

Similar to her character, Pascual-Peña isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes. In an interview with LADYGUNN, she opened up about the need for more Afro-Latinx representation on screen. "It is imperative to me that I am able to uplift the Latinx and Black community in all that I do," she said. "I strive to be an advocate for all marginalized communities and an agent of change. As an artist, I pray that all my work and content allows for people to feel celebrated."

Lauren Tsai as Claudia

Fans of Netflix's hidden gem, Terrace House, might recognize the 23-year-old model and illustrator Lauren Tsai. She makes her film debut in Moxie as Vivian's childhood best friend Claudia. Both risk-averse introverts, bonded over their shared MBTI. But as Vivian begins to unleash her inner rebel, Claudia has to find a way, as a first-generation Chinese-American with a lot riding on her shoulders, to be a Moxie girl on her own practical terms.

Although Tsai is best known for appearing on the 2016 season of the Japanese reality show Terrace House: Aloha State, where she was introduced as a model, the Chinese-American artist quit modeling to focus on her art — and herself. "People in the media [in Tokyo] expect girls to be happy and cute and positive, and I hated that," she told SSENSE. "I was so frustrated with it because it didn’t feel like me." Now, she channels her inner darkness and rage into her illustrations, where "putting all of that into my work is my form of rebellion."

Josephine Langford as Emma

After star Josephine Langford plays Emma, the school's "It" girl. Pretty, blonde, and popular, Emma was voted "Most Bangable" by the guys in school, but she's so much more than a crude title; she's smart, ambitious, and way more plugged into the Moxie agenda than people think, even if she doesn't always show it. She's also harboring a secret and turns to Moxie for help.

For 23-year-old actor Langford, Moxie is a chance for her to play yet another strong-willed young woman, like the After saga's Tessa Young, with her own point of view. In a 2020 interview with Teen Vogue, the actor explained why media embraced by young women, and made about young women, is often dismissed. "I think that society has a big issue with teenage girls and shame," she said. "Their magazines and their music and their interests and their views, I think we love to shame them. And shame is the keyword because it's not just, 'I don't like this thing you're interested in.' It's, 'I don't like this thing you're interested in and you're stupid for liking it.'"

Josie Totah as CJ

Josie Totah is one of the busiest young actors in Hollywood. With a scene-stealing role in Saved By The Bell (alongside her IRL friend Alycia Pascual-Peña) and voice role in Netflix's beloved Big Mouth, Moxie is the 19-year-old's next step on her way to global domination. As CJ, Totah not only gets to flex some of her musical theatre chops with a Little Shop of Horrors audition, but she also finds sisterhood and support with the members of Moxie. With their encouragement, CJ feels empowered enough to drown out the haters, audition for the lead role of Audrey in the school musical, and snatch the crown.

According to Totah, the vibe among the cast on set was just like that of their characters. "What was so incredible was we were all willing to learn, and we all recognize that there are certain blind spots in all of our lives, because of the different identities and experiences we all have faced," she told ScreenRant. "But the fact that we're all willing to learn and engage in those conversations, I think, is really what creates change and generates growth in the world."

Sydney Park as Kiera

As the captain of the girls soccer team, Kiera is disciplined and focused, and she knows just how hard she and her teammates work to get even a fraction of the recognition the boys do. When she goes head to head with Mitchell for an athletic scholarship, it starts a war at Rockport High as Moxie endorses Kiera as the best athlete in school. With their help, she's able to raise her voice and demand recognition.

Actor Sydney Park has had plenty of roles in genre shows like The Walking Dead and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, not to mention a starring role in the horror film There Is Someone Inside Your House, but she could relate to Kiera on a more personal level. "I think I carry this responsibility of being one of the voices of this generation, but also being a biracial girl and just kind of carrying the torch for everyone and paving the way," she told Vogue Singapore last year. The 23-year-old is also currently working on her own music.

Anjelika Washington as Amaya

Actor Anjelika Washington plays Amaya, Kiera's teammate, and best friend. She's always there to hype up her bestie while also energizing anyone she comes into contact with. Feisty and exuberant, Amaya is Moxie's — and maybe Lucy's — No. 1 fan. Similarly, she also doesn't tolerate any BS.

"'Moxie' to me means that every single person is powerful," the 22-year-old told ScreenRant. "That when every person stands up for what they believe in, stands up for themselves and who they really are, they are powerful and there's nothing that can stop them." Washington currently stars in DC's Stargirl.

Sabrina Haskett as Kaitlynn

Kaitlynn is played by newcomer Sabrina Haskett. Kaitlynn inspires the creation of Moxie after she's publicly shamed by the principal in the middle of class for wearing a tank top to school. She's promptly sent home for violating Rockport's sexist dress code that discriminates against girls. The incident bothers Vivian so much that she immediately takes rebellion into her own hands.

While Moxie is Haskett's first major project, she's no stranger to being on stage. She was a contestant on American Idol back in 2014. She will next appear in the TV series Happy Hazel.

Nico Hiraga as Seth

Keep your eyes on Nico Hiraga. The 23-year-old actor is about to have a breakthrough year, starting with Moxie. To be honest, Hiraga's Seth might be the most perfect teenage boy ever written. He's awkward, yet cool. He's a feminist who stands by Vivian without standing in her way or speaking over her. He respects her, supports her, and he even takes her on a first date to a funeral home. And while his 10-year plan could use a little more work (skating, really?), he's everything you'd want in an ally.

Skater, model, actor — Hiraga is a multifaceted creative who has an affinity for playing endearing guys and working with women filmmakers. He appeared in the 2018 women-led skateboarding flick Skate Kitchen (directed by Crystal Moselle) and in 2019's critically beloved teen film Booksmart (directed by Olivia Wilde). In an interview with SSENSE, he recalls how a piece of advice from his mother gave him purpose in his life and career: "You’re always going to continue to grow. Don’t stop, ever."

Patrick Schwarzenegger as Mitchell Wilson

The epitome of toxic masculinity, Mitchell Wilson, played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, wields his popularity and white, male privilege like a dangerous weapon. He's aggressive, and, well, kind of an asshole, but he also happens to be the most popular guy in school, in part because he terrorizes women under the guise of charisma. And as the film's primary antagonist, there's nothing redeemable about him.

Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, is "very far removed from this type of character," the actor told ScreenRant. The 27-year-old, whose previous credits include Midnight Sun and Daniel Isn't Real, said he felt a huge responsibility playing a villain like Mitchell. "It's a high school film and the base that's going to be watching is young teenagers," he explained. "We want them to learn and be motivated from this story, and inspired to go out and use their voice to show that they're worth something, but it sucks to play the villain and just a terrible guy."

Amy Poehler as Lisa (and director)

Comedy icon Amy Poehler directs and stars in Moxie as Vivian's "cool mom" Lisa. A former riot grrrl in her youth, Lisa's frank feminism and punk-rock past give Vivian the idea to create Moxie.

Poehler needs no introduction. The star of Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls, and Parks and Recreation, the performer's legend precedes her. Stepping behind the camera for Moxie, which was also produced by her production company Paper Kite, was an easy decision for Poehler. "I’ve always been drawn to films that show people trying, in real-time, to figure out what they care about and what they’re going to do about it," she told Vogue India. "Vivian lights the match and that fire spreads."